Blood Glucose Overestimation Using Hemoglucostix in a Diabetic Patient on Icodextrin-based Peritoneal Dialysis

Icodextrin is a newly available glucose-free peritoneal dialysis solution that can be used in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control. It is less readily absorbed from the peritoneal cavity and, hence, has the advantage of reduced glucose absorption. This new osmotic agent, however, is not metabolically inert. Absorption of icodextrin can result in accumulation of oligosaccharide metabolites that interfere with some laboratory tests. We report a patient suffering from spurious hyperglycemia after using this new osmotic agent. Various mechanisms of hemoglucostix are discussed to provide information to clinicians on one important potential complication of this new osmotic agent